Spinal traction device

Abstract

A spinal traction device permits a user to conduct spinal traction therapies, either with or without aid by another, using the user's leg weight and/or leg muscle and/or torso muscle action to apply tensile forces to the spine. The device includes a body support portion on which the user lies in a supine position, and a movable leg support that is coupled to the body support portion. The leg support pivots and/or translates relative to the body support portion in response to the application of leg weight and/or leg muscle and/or torso muscle action to the leg support. Under-arm supports along the body support portion engage the user's underarms to keep the user's upper torso in a substantially fixed position, so that tension is applied to the user's spine in response to movement of the leg support, as it is engaged by the calves and/or backs of the user's legs.

1 . A spinal traction device comprising:
 a body support member configured to support an upper body of a user in a supine position, said support member having a head end portion, a leg end portion, and an upper support surface;   a body retaining element at said upper support surface, said body retaining element configured to engage and at least partially retain a part of the user at said upper support surface;   a leg support having a proximal end portion for coupling to said body support member at said leg end portion thereof, and having a distal end portion for supporting the legs of a user, said leg support being movably coupled to said body support member; and   wherein said leg support is movable from a first position in which said distal end portion is closer to said body retaining element of said body support member, to a second position in which said distal end portion is further from said body retaining element of said body support member than when in said first position, in response to the application of force by the legs of the user to said distal end portion of said leg support.   
     
     
         2 . The spinal traction device of  claim 1 , wherein said proximal end portion of said leg support is translatably coupled to said leg end portion of said body support member, whereby the application of force by the legs of the user to the distal end portion of said leg support causes said leg support to translate toward said second position. 
     
     
         3 . The spinal traction device of  claim 1 , wherein said proximal end portion of said leg support is pivotably coupled to said leg end portion of said body support member, whereby the application of force by the legs of the user to the distal end portion of said leg support causes said leg support to pivot toward said second position. 
     
     
         4 . The spinal traction device of  claim 3 , wherein said proximal end portion of said leg support is translatably coupled to said leg end portion of said body support member, whereby the application of force by the legs of the user to the distal end portion of said leg support causes said leg support to translate toward said second position. 
     
     
         5 . The spinal traction device of  claim 4 , further comprising a rack-and-pinion joint for movably coupling said leg support to said body support member. 
     
     
         6 . The spinal traction device of  claim 5 , wherein said proximal end portion of said leg support comprises a pinion of said rack-and-pinion joint, said pinion having a pivot axis, and wherein said leg end portion of said body support member comprises a rack portion of said rack-and-pinion joint. 
     
     
         7 . The spinal traction device of  claim 6 , wherein said leg end portion of said body support member further comprises a slot, and said proximal end portion of said leg support comprises a shaft disposed at said pivot axis of said pinion, and wherein said shaft is disposed in said slot and is permitted to translate along said slot as said pinion of said leg support pivots and translates along said rack of said leg end portion of said body support member. 
     
     
         8 . The spinal traction device of  claim 6 , wherein said pinion comprises an oblong shape and said slot comprises an arcuate shape, said pinion configured to provide an upward component to the translating motion of said leg support. 
     
     
         9 . The spinal traction device of  claim 6 , wherein said pinion comprises an at least partially circular shape and a shaft spaced radially outwardly from said pivot axis so that said shaft traverses an arcuate path when said pinion pivots about said pivot axis, and wherein said slot comprises an arcuate shape corresponding to said arcuate path of said shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The spinal traction device of  claim 1 , wherein said body support member comprises an upper support surface and a lower support surface, said upper support surface for supporting the upper body of the user in the supine position, said lower support surface for engaging a floor or ground surface, and wherein at least said upper support surface of said body support member comprises an upwardly concave arcuate shape. 
     
     
         10 . The spinal traction device of  claim 10 , wherein said upper support surface of said body support member comprises an anti-lordotic curve. 
     
     
         12 . The spinal traction device of  claim 10 , wherein said lower support surface of said body support member comprises a downwardly convex arcuate shape that permits said spinal traction device to be moved in a reciprocating or rocking motion on the floor or ground surface. 
     
     
         13 . The spinal traction device of  claim 10 , wherein said lower support surface of said body support member comprises at least one support leg configured to support said spinal traction device in a substantially fixed orientation relative to the floor or ground surface. 
     
     
         14 . The spinal traction device of  claim 1 , wherein said body retaining element comprises an under-arm support extending upwardly from said body support member near said head end portion thereof, and said under-arm support is configured to support the underarm of the user in the supine position to thereby support the upper body of the user in a substantially fixed position at said body support member as said leg support is moved from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         15 . The spinal traction device of  claim 14 , wherein-said under-arm support is repositionable and releasably securable along said body support member to accommodate users of varying heights and/or sizes. 
     
     
         16 . The spinal traction device of  claim 1 , wherein said body retaining element comprises a high-friction surface positioned along said upper surface of said body support member. 
     
     
         17 . The spinal traction device of  claim 1 , wherein said body retaining element comprises at least one strap for releasably securing a part of the user to said upper surface of said body support member. 
     
     
         18 . The spinal traction device of  claim 1 , wherein the force applied by the legs of the user to the leg support for moving the leg support comprises at least one of (i) leg weight, (ii) a downward force applied by the leg muscles, and (iii) a downward force applied by the torso muscles to the legs. 
     
     
         19 . A spinal traction device comprising:
 a body support member configured to support an upper body of a user in a supine position, said support member having a head end portion, a leg end portion, an upper support surface for supporting the upper body of the user, and a lower surface for engaging a floor surface;   a leg support mounted to and extending upwardly from said leg end portion of said body support member for supporting the legs of a user;   a leg retaining element at said leg support, said leg retaining element configured to engage and at least partially retain a portion of the legs of the user at said leg support; and   wherein said body support member is tiltable from a first position in which said head end portion is further from the floor surface, to a second position in which said head end portion is closer to the floor surface so that the user's upper body weight causes the user's upper body to move along the upper support surface to thereby apply tension to the user's spine.   
     
     
         20 . The spinal traction device of  claim 19 , wherein said lower surface comprises a convex arcuate surface.